2018 Big Bid Items

H. ‘Entranced' (Wols NR) has my head going in multiple directions. Love the patterns of colors in a streaked plant? This one fits the bill. Like a plant with some size to it, again, this has it. Then there are those that dab pollen and are always considering interesting plants for a pod parent in search of potentially great variegated plants, HAS IT! This one will have hybridizers dreaming of the crosses they can make with it and the new directions they can take it.

The original OP seed came from one of Doug Bielstien’s Fall Hosta Works seed offerings. You’re looking at a 10 year old plant growing in Dan’s garden, that has NEVER left his garden. This is the FIRST piece to be released. Parentage is the combo of a classic breeder and a species, (‘Galaxy’ x kikutii finlandia) x OP. It sets pods easily, has maintained its heavy streaking, and lends a bright spot in the garden that is sure to attract attention. Agree??!!

Dan is known to send VERY GENEROUS divisions to past winners. He states that he will send a “multi-eyed chunk of ‘Entranced'” to the winning bidder!

H. ‘Apple Pucker’ OS (M. Bendig)

Matt Bendig, one of the young rising stars I hybridizing, offers this selected seeding from his breeding program. ‘Apple Pucker’ is a cross of (‘Pinstrip Sister x OP). Clump shown above fits the medium size category and the leaf detail is shown here. Check out the color, think Granny Smith and the pucker from the tratness. Fitting name, indeed.

Check out the TEXTURE as each leaf develops interesting patterns in the puckering, folds, and swirls as if it is sculpted out of yellow marble stone. Leaves dome or cup as they take their respective position upon the clump.

‘Apple Pucker’, is reserved to be offered to this auction and other hosta fundraiser events. You will NOT find this one available anywhere else for it is not in production. The successful bidder must agree not to propagate, sell or share the plant without permission.

This offer is for a DOUBLE division to be shipped in the spring by donor and originator, Matt Bendig, one of our newer rising stars in the hosta breeding arena.

H. ‘Evil Woman’ OS (C. Wasitis - 2013)

Chick Wasitis, Maryland, is another of our new donors this year. Retired from years as owner of Bridgewood Gardens, home of his hosta introductions that typically have a 70’s song reference in the name. Belt out the lyrics, “Ha Ha woman it's a crying shame but you ain't got nobody else to blame … evil woman, …” H. 'Evil Woman' (C. Wasitis, 2013) A medium size mound of dark green leaves with creamy yellow margins. Leaves are nicely puckered and turn downward towards the tip. Named after and dedicated to my wife.

This is an OS plant, grown on in a one gallon pot to be shipped bareroot at appropriate time in the spring. You will NOT easily find this one available nor is it predictable when it will be available again!

H. ‘Because of Art’ OS (Ternes)

Nick Ternes' desription captures the features and history of this first time ever pffered plant. Winner will receive a nice division with at least 2 eyes of Hosta ‘Because of Art’ shipped bare-root sometime in late spring to early summer.

This hosta is named for Arthur Degnitz, the man completely responsible for me being involved with the genus Hosta. Really, it’s all his fault! I didn’t particularly like or dislike hostas before working with Art. He headed up the hosta department at the nursery where I would eventually become manager. His excitement and passion for his favorite plants was obviously contagious, he could easily sell a couple dozen to nearly any gardener. Even I started buying them, taken in by their ease of culture and endless forms and colors. Eventually I became interested in hybridizing and he gifted me this plant along with several others. This hosta sickness I have, it’s all because of Art!

This an pollinated seedling of H. yingeri that Art acquired from Chuck Finke. At the time it wasn’t terribly impressive, looking basically like H. yingeri in habit but not flower. The backs were slightly glaucous http://www.americanhostasociety.org/auction_pictures/Because_of_Art_6.jpg and I have an interest in the species though so I planted it. It grew and transformed over many years to be a medium-large mound of glossy, dark green, pointed leaves with nice white backs. The flowers are lavender with a slightly pinkish tinge and held on scapes that emerge from the mound nearly sideways.

Flower habit is reminiscent of H. kikutii. This is a late blooming species, timing coincides with H. yingeri, H. kikutii var. leuconata, and other late hostas for me. So far, this has never formed seed pods for me. The pollen looks viable but I have not tried it in hybridizing yet. This plant has never been shared with anyone else and I will register it in the near future. I will be making a few final measurements, observations, and pictures early this year after which it will be divided and potted for increase and sale. I expect I’ll be ready to ship a piece to the winner some time in June.

This first ever offer is donated by Nick Ternes of Botanophilia LLC.

H. ‘Skunk’ OS (K. Ziarek)

Donated and shipped by Ken Ziarek, Deerfield, Wisconsin, the noted collector of rare and Originator’s Stock (OS) hostas. One- or two-eye division. Originator’s stock.This is a Ken Ziarek introduction: he is the originator and nominant.

NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE. There is only the original clump in Ken’s garden.The successful bidder must agree not to propagate, sell or share the plant without permission. Very odd cultivar name. Very odd foliage. VERY GREAT HOSTA.

H. ‘Skunk’ is an unusual -- perhaps unique -- sport of the popular tetraploid H. ‘Fire and Ice’, which is a reversed-variegation sport of popular H. ‘Patriot’ also tetraploid.

Ken’s description: “One of my favorite plants. This sport is from my clump of 'Fire and Ice' that loves to throw sports.

H. 'Skunk' has thick substance, rich dark colors, and each and every leaf carries a narrow white stripe down the center of the leaf.

My clump now is about 10 years of age and has been moved 4-5 times in its lifetime to different areas of the gardens -- which doesn't help its growth rate. It measures about 2 1/2 feet in diameter and stands about 15 inches tall. It’s in a lot of late morning and early afternoon sunlight.

The unique thing about ‘Skunk’ is that in its entire life there has never been a solid green leaf. Each and every leaf carries that white center stripe. Many people have tried to find a green leaf on the clump but no one has succeeded.

The name ‘Skunk' has been attached to various plants in my garden before since I move name tags around as I see fit. Eventually the 'Skunk' name stayed with this plant and people began to recognize this hosta with this name. The name obviously comes about from the leaves’ variegation.”

This plant has never left Ken’s yard nor shared with anyone. This is the first opportunity to acquire it. H. ‘Skunk’ is certain to get a lot of attention in your garden.

H. ‘Lachman Legacy’ OS (W. & E. Lachman - 2014)

Donated by Steve and Ruth Greene, Sudbury, Massachusetts. SCARCE. VERY LIMITED IN THE MARKETPLACE. ONLY IN A FEW GARDENS IN THE NORTHEAST.

H. ‘Lachman Legacy’ is a William and Eleanor Lachman seedling, perhaps the last plant directly from their extensive breeding program.

Bill Lachman was professor of plant and soil sciences at University of Massachusetts in Amherst (1936-1976). His field of study involved corn and tomato genetics. Eleanor was a horticulture degree student at UMass and worked in the lab. There she caught Bill’s eye; they married. Both have passed away: Bill in 1998 at 88, Eleanor in 2004 at 89.

Bill and Eleanor began hybridizing daylilies as a hobby. Their interest in hostas started after a visit to their garden in the 1970s by Kevin Vaughn, who was crossing hosta cultivars and studying hosta genetics. They lived only 15 miles from where Kevin’s folks lived.

The Lachmans began breeding hostas in 1978 and continued for nearly 20 years. Their first registration was in 1986. There are 68 W. & E. Lachman hybrids and sports in the AHS Registry.

H. ‘Lachman Legacy’ traces to the 2009 AHS National Convention in Lansing, Michigan. There, the 2009 Eunice Fisher Hybridizer Award was presented to William and Eleanor Lachman posthumously. Their daughter, Elizabeth, flew in from Berlin, Germany, where she was living, to accept the award for her parents and give the acceptance speech.

Doug Beilstein, then AHS VP Honors and Awards and future AHS President (2011-2013), brought a special rare Lachman breeding hosta that he had in his garden in Ohio to the convention’s auction to coincide with the Fisher award. It was labeled “Lachman Guest Seedling.” The buyer had naming rights.

Steve Greene, compiler of the popular Hosta Finder (now no longer published after 22 editions) and prodigious advocate and supporter of New England hosta hybridizers and their introductions, purchased it. “I wanted to bring a Lachman plant unknown in the trade back to New England,” he explained. The plant sold for $2,400 after a fierce bidding war.

Steve worked with Elizabeth Lachman to have the hosta registered. She chose the cultivar name ‘Lachman Legacy’. Steve collected the needed technical information, growing the hosta in his garden for 5 years. In 2014 Elizabeth registered the hosta citing W. & E. Lachman as originators and introducers

Steve says ‘Lachman Legacy’ makes a very nice presentation in the garden. The margin increases in width as the clump matures. Mark Zilis in an article in THJ remarked that many of the Lachmans’ introductions have a special appearance that bear the “Lachman brand.” H. ‘Lachman Legacy’ appears to have this distinction.

H. ‘Uncle Albert’ OS (C. Wasitis - 2008)

Chick Wasitis, Maryland, is another of our new donors this year. Retired from years as owner of Bridgewood Gardens, home of his hosta introductions that typically have a 70’s song reference in the name. Get humming, or belt out the lyrics, while you enjoy while enjoying this plant.

It produces very large "bird's head' flower buds, and a mature plant will often have many flowers that open at once forming a large ball. Some flower heads are so heavy that they need support. A very good breeder that has produced some excellent seedlings.

This is an OS plant, grown on in a one gallon pot to be shipped bareroot at appropriate time in the spring. Rare few sources for this one and very limited availability!

VERY RARE. NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE. There is only the original clump in Olga’s garden and the piece purchased by Owen at an auction several years ago. The successful bidder must agree not to propagate, sell or share the plant without permission from the originator.

H. ‘Mt. Baldy’ is a very large gold from a lengthy cross made in 1998 by Olga Petryszyn, Valparaiso, Indiana, “The “Hosta Lady” on Facebook. [See featured article on Olga in January 2018 AHS eNewsletter, page 22.]

Here’s the back story on the name from Olga: “About 5 years ago Bob Balitewicz [the enthusiastic hosta connoisseur and ambassador commonly known as “Indiana Bob” who passed away in January 2014] was visiting and spotted it in the area where I put the hostas of interest. He insisted that I register it and called it ‘Mt. Baldy’.

“Mt. Baldy is a sand dune located at the southern shore of Lake Michigan in the Indiana Dunes National Park. It is a living shifting dune of 126 feet. Bob and I loved that special area. It has been closed for hiking ever since that young boy sank down into an empty shaft most likely created by a hollow tree. Thank God he survived.”

Olga says she will register ‘Mt. Baldy’ in 2018.

H. ‘Cathy's Clown’ (C. Wasitis - 2011)

We love seeing yet one more first time donor to this auction give back to the group, a provider as well as a consumer; we do indeed! Chick Wasitis, Maryland, is another of our new donors this year. Chick had been a long time donor to another entity and joins us here this year. Retired from years as owner of Bridgewood Gardens, home of his hosta introductions that typically have a 70’s song reference in the name. His plants will get you humming for the plant as you enjoy it and each time you think of its name.

'Cathy's Clown', C. Wasitis, 2011. A large, upright plant. Leaves are heart-shaped, green with a creamy-yellow to white margin that often streaks toward the center. This variety has been shared with a few friends, but is not available for sale.

The successful bidder must agree not to propagate, sell or share the plant without permission. You simply will not be finding this one available nor is it predictable when it will be available again!

H. ‘Sensational Mood’ OS (K. Ziarek)

Donated and shipped by Ken Ziarek, Deerfield, Wisconsin, the noted collector of rare and Originator’s Stock (OS) hostas. One- or two-eye division. Originator’s stock. This is a Ken Ziarek introduction; he is the originator and nominant.

NOT AVAILABLE ANYWHERE ELSE. There is only the original clump in Ken’s garden. The successful bidder must agree not to propagate, sell or share the plant without permission.

“H. ‘Sensational Mood’ has a stunning yellow color in early spring reverting to a chartreuse color as the season progresses. I selected it for its color.” “GREAT FORM, GREAT SUBSTANCE, GREAT COLOR!“ Those who that have seen it my garden have said: ‘Stopped me in my tracks. It's GORGEOUS.’

“My clump is 9-10 years of age and has never been shared with anyone.”

RARE. Not featured in the trade. Not known to be in any garden other than Ken’s. In 2005, Mary Chastain, the highly regarded, prolific hosta breeder who resides in Ooltewah, Tennessee, by a lakeside (yes, that’s where Mary’s “Lakeside” moniker comes from), registered a seeding from a cross she made in 2001. Parentage is listed as seedling x ‘Lakeside Ripples’.

Its name: H. ‘Lakeside Whispering Leaves’. Leaf is cited as 11 inches long and 12 inches wide, blue-green in color, slightly rippled, slightly shiny on top, moderately flat, nearly round, cordate base. Plant (clump) size is cited as 64 inches diameter and 28 inches high; mound-like; fast. Ken Ziarek obtained this hosta from Mary 12-14 years ago. His clump now is “a good 5 feet wide and 30 inches tall.” (That’s about the same size Mary cited in the registration for her 4-year old division!

“I never thought this hosta would get to this size,” Ken says. “Large leaves are of a blue-green color with a nice clumping habit. I grow this plant in 3/4 sun and if grown in more shade it would be of a bluer color for a longer period of time.

“The interesting part or I should say the unique part of this plant is the PINK flowers and buds that the plant has. They are very noticeable. People who see the plant comment about the flower color. (Mary did not cite the flower color in the registration.)

“Great substance, form, and color make this a very desirable background plant.”

H. ‘Pat Raeder’ (B. Kuk - 2011)

Donated by Rod Hillstrom, Plymouth, Minnesota: 3+ DIVISION PLANT.
RARE. VERY LIMITED AVAILABILITY IN THE TRADE. ONLY A FEW SPECIMENS IN COLLECTORS’ GARDENS.

H. ‘Pat Raeder' is an introduction of Bob Kuk, Brecksville, Ohio, registered in 2011. Parentage is H. ‘Galaxy Light’ x unknown. (H. ‘Galaxy Light’, a Bill and Eleanor Lachman discovery, is a sport of ‘Galaxy’, a popular Lachman hybrid.) Bob passed away in 2012 at age 65. He was a premier hosta hybridizer. Kuk Forest, his highly-acclaimed nursery, was a landscaping and geological wonderment.

Bob named this hosta for Pat Raeder, a prominent hosta collector and gardener who lived nearby in Brecksville. Her garden and Bob’s Kuk Forest were on the coach tours at the 2005 Cleveland, Ohio, AHS National Convention. She showcased a huge clump of ‘Pat Raeder’ that received considerable attendee attention.

Rod’s donation is a ‘Pat Raeder’ plant found by the Minnesota Hosta Society in a local nursery in 2016 and sold by MHS last year. Rod says he is quite sure it is a tissue-cultured hosta. Kuk Forest was noted for offering Originator Stock (OS), but seemingly a small tissue-culture batch was propagated by now-closed Shady Oaks Nursery in Minnesota. MHS members report these hostas are excellent growers.

H. ‘Country Confessions’ OS (J. Spece)

The first introduction and first ever offering of this plant from Josh Spece and In The Country Garden & Gifts!

'Country Confessions' is a sport of 'Faith' that I've been watching for
several years. The heavy, round leaves are deeply veined and strongly
puckered at maturity. Wide, bright gold margins wrap around a
chartreuse shadow in the leaf center, creating a subtle, but strikingly
beautiful plant. Absolutely glows in the spring and holds up all
season, here in Iowa! Has been a good grower in bright, dappled shade
with compost-rich soil, forming a mound about 15" tall by 38" wide after
6 years. My first introduction and the first time this will leave my
garden.

The successful bidder must agree not to propagate, sell or share the plant without permission. Josh does plan to produce it commercially in small numbers, but that is a couple years away (assuming it behaves well in tissue culture).

A single OS division shipped bare root in mid May. Donated by Josh Spece, In The Country Garden and Gifts.

A seedling from Glenbrook Farm, noted for introductions with moniker “Glen,” such as ‘Glen Triumph’ (popular in a previous auction) and ‘Glen Tiara’. Viktoria’s ‘Silver Platter’ was another popular in a previous auction. Spring emergence. NOT READILY AVAILABLE. Not listed in 2018 Glenbrook Farm catalog.

H. ‘Jolly Roger’ is a HUGE UPRIGHT blue-leaved plant. Height is up to 40 inches; foliage, about 3 feet across. THICK somewhat wavy and cupped leaves are an intense blue, greening up later in the season. Back side of leaves are whitish proving nice contact. Near white, fertile flowers nicely just atop the foliage. Very sun tolerant. Vigorous. Strong grower. Viktoria says: TREMENDOUS SPECIMEN.

[Glenbrook Farm is a small nursery in upstate New York “in a bucolic setting surrounded by green fields and pastures where Paso Fino and Amish horses abound.” “K” in spelling of her given name comes from her Finnish heritage.]

Dean #3 Your Choice of One Very Recent Intros OS

Well, bidders seem to like the “Your Choice” option. Here is another. You win the bid and you choose (bidders have show that they like this idea so here is another!) which one of the following three to have sent in the spring when the plants emerge in Minnesota. Mature, field grown DOUBLE or better.

Select from ‘Deep Waters’ clump shown above and leaf shown here. Very upright, vase shaped clump of good blue and leaf texture that seems carved or sculpted, setting up a widely varied number of patterns on different leaves. Foliage.

OR

H. ‘Crinkled Leather’ which is upright, densely compact in clump form with intensely corrugated (rugose) slightly blue-green foliage that becomes green. Performs northern sun very well. Registered so size details, etc. are available in the registry. Leaf here

OR

H. ‘Sapphire Pillows’, new for 2018. One of those special blues that, like others, really glows in early and late daylight. Yes, this one has HOLDING power of its rich color. This one has been a long time coming as it was being used as a breeder on and off for years. An upright, vase shaped mound can be expected and countess little “bumps’ (pillows) cover these domed, curled, and/or cupped leaves.

Very shiny, moderately corrugated blue-green leaves are large and nearly round, about 14 inches long and 12 inches wide, held horizontal. Underside almost turquoise-glaucous. Very tough substance. Clump size is greater than 30 inches tall and 4 feet across.

Olga describes ‘Gitchigumi’ as having “perfect proportions.” Says it Is fertile both ways.
From H. ‘Sagae’, ‘Tokudama Aureonebulosa’, ‘Sun Power’ and ‘Gold Regal’ parents. An addition to Olga’s Americana Series honoring Minnesota.

Hugo Philips elegantly waxed about ‘Gitchigumi’ in his online MyHostas database: Matching the cool fluid surface of the leaf brings a large blue lake to mind. The Ojibwe language refers to Lake Superior as ‘Gitchigumi,’ meaning ‘big water.’ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote about the lake in ‘The Song of Hiawatha.’ The large shiny round blue leaves hold quite horizontally and are slightly seersuckered. The blue seems unique. If you imagine white caps in the wind, you can see the white glaucous underside. The white bell-shaped flowers are huge and heavily budded. Gloriously peaceful and soft on the eyes.

Great hosta with great historical value. A MUST-HAVE if you live or lived in Minnesota. Go Vikings! Hosta ‘Gitchigumi’ is a great addition to any garden anywhere. Go Hostas!

Perhaps because the list of exceptional hostas that Mary Chastain, Ooltewah, Tennessee, hydridized is so extensive (153 are registered!), some don’t get the attention they should. H. ‘Lakeside Grumpy Green’ is one. It’s a big green, described by Owen Purvis as “very unruly.” Parentage is unknown.

Shiny dark-green corrugated leaves, some with unusual, irregular deep crinkling and puckering, are rounded and large, about 11 inches x 11 inches. As the season progresses, the bright foliage gets darker. Mature clump is about 22 inches tall and 60 inches wide.

Asked why ‘LS Grumpy Green’ is “very unruly,” Owen explained: “The clump in not symmetrical and tidy. Petioles seem to be going in all directions. Leaves seem to be jammed together in the clump, almost as if the petioles were too short to allow them to spread out fully.” Hugo Philips, in is wide-ranging online database MyHostas, remarked: “Mary Chastain’s rare and fertile hybrid will put a big grin on your face. No one will feel out of sorts while viewing it. Leaves are oozing roguish charm. Makes a splendid foundation plant for mixing with more colorful cultivars in the hosta elan.”

This hosta is DIFFERENT. It’s an attention getter.

Dean Your Choice of One Double or Better OS

OS, You win the bid and you choose which one of the following three to have sent in the spring when the plants emerge in Minnesota. Mature, field grown.

Select from 'Titanium' … This cross of H. 'Urajiro Hachijo' × H. 'Blue Clown'. H. ‘Titanium’ is a strong blue that holds its color late into the season, as do its siblings. Works well as a parent and has good growth rate for a heavy substance blue. Shown above.

OR

'Pewterware' … This cross of H. 'Urajiro Hachijo' × H. 'Blue Moon'. H. ‘Pewterware’ is a strong blue that holds its color late into the season, a different, almost aqua blue. Works well as a parent and a heavy substance blue. Shown here

OR

'Astral Bliss' … This is a cross of ‘Cutting Edge’ and I believe ‘Salute’ (the only blue I crossed to ‘Cutting Edge’ that year, but no tag readable, thus registered unknown pollen donor. Used HEAVILY in breeding with very pleasing results of successive and future introductions within more complex crosses. Color holds late in Mn and the wavy edge plus color passes on in later crosses. Beautiful in its own but important in breeding.